Scott Lee Johnson to hear charges that he distributed at least five kilos of cocaine, which is punishable by not less than 10 years

Scott Lee Johnson told Wilkerson he is from Pontoon Beach and has two daughters, ages 25 and 14.He said he finished 11th grade in high school, then earned a GED and has some college, which answered Wilkerson's question as to whether he could read and write English.Johnson told Wilkerson that he understood the charges against him. He said he was going to be represented by attorney William Stiehl Jr.
Johnson was in court making his initial appearance to hear charges that he distributed at least five kilos of cocaine, which is punishable by not less than 10 years and up to life in prison. It also carries a penalty of $4 million in fines and at least three years of supervised release.Johnson has previous drug convictions. He was out on federal supervised release.Wilkerson said he might learn today that that privilege had been revoked.Johnson is scheduled to be back in front of Wilkerson on Wednesday for a detention and probable cause hearing. At that time, he will learn whether the government has probable cause for him to be detained in the federal system.Johnson stood motionless as the judge told him what he was facing. And when Wilkerson said, "good luck to you," Johnson replied, "thanks." As he was led away from the courtroom by deputy U.S. Marshals, he turned and waved to a woman and a young girl who had come to court on his behalf.Johnson also was told that he faces charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon. The prison sentence for conviction of this charge is not more than 10 years and a fine of $250,0000 or both and not more than three years supervised release.Johnson was arrested Friday night at 8201 State St., a home East St. Louis police said belonged to him.Police served three search warrants -- one at the Best Fish House at 917 Martin Luther King Drive, a house in the 5700 block of Westmoreland, in Washington Park, which East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Baxton said belonged to Johnson, and the State Street address.Police seized large sums of money, drugs and more than nine handguns from the three locations associated with Johnson, Baxton said.
Johnson was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding after he refused to pull over the truck he was driving east on Interstate 64 with police following him. He turned the truck around and around and then bailed out. Police chased and arrested him, Baxton said.Baxton said Johnson's arrest will put a big dent in drug trafficking in the metro-east.